Administrative hurdles for free langars during Amarnath Yatra

• Langar organisers challenge order by Shri Amarnath ji Shrine board in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court
• Accused of framing strict rules under pressure from Muslim hoteliers. 
• One cannot help but wonder why people of other faiths are allowed to profit from Hindu festivals and pilgrimages

Jammu – Hindu organizations, institutions and sadhus organize Langar (free food) for pilgrims undertaking the the yearly Amarnath Yatra.  Boarding and medical facilities are also provided free of cost in some langars. However, this year the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has imposed many conditions on the organisation of these langars for the yatra. Only those who fulfill these criteria will be allowed to organise the langars.  A petition challenging the administration’s decision has been filled in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court through advocate Ankur Sharma. The petition claims that these administrative conditions do not comply by the basic principle of daan (charity) according to Sanatan Dharma. According to Article 25 of the Constitution, everyone has the freedom to act as per their religion. The new rules violate this. Therefore the rules should be withdrawn.

They are not satisfied just with selective take over of Hindu Religious Institutions.

Idea is to purge Hindu Associations.

Idea is to somehow restrict Hindus from performing their Religious Duties of Charity etc. pic.twitter.com/IRTJ2mDnYL

— Ankur Sharma (@AnkurSharma_Adv) March 6, 2021

1. According to the new rules, the the langar organisers can organise only one langar throughout the yatra. They will have to provide information about what food will be served in the langar. They have to get a police certificate for the same and will have to submit an application to the Shri Amarnath ji Shrine Board in this regard.

2. Along with the application a copy of balance sheet verified by a Chartered Accountant for the last three years and a demand draft of Rs 10,000 have to be submitted. People participating in the langar service should not have a criminal record. Applicants should not have any dues or penalties with the board. All the people serving in the langar will be scrutinized by the police etc.

3. According to the langar organisations, most of the foodstuff available for the langar is obtained from donations, so there is neither financial transaction nor account hence there is no question of balance sheet. People working in langar come from different places to serve, as such it is difficult to bring police verification certificate for everyone.

Administration operating under pressure of Muslim hoteliers 

Due to the langars by Hindu organisations and associations, hotels owned by Muslims located along the Yatra route are facing a crunch. Now the new rules will inevitably force the langars run by Hindu organizations to shut down and benefitting the Muslim hoteliers. The Shri Amarnath Barfani Langar Organization (SABLO) has also accused the Board of trying to purge the Hindu langar system.